Wednesday, May 31, 2017

If you are planning on visiting Ottawa this summer, or live here and are wanting to plan a few day trips, then this post is for you. There are many options for day trips in the Ottawa area, these are five that I think are fun. All of these are within 90 minutes or so of downtown.

1. Upper Canada Village - fun for all ages. I went many times growing up, and have been twice with the boys. Plan to spend 3-5 hours at the village to see everything and immerse yourself in what life was like in the 19th century. Pack a picnic and enjoy their picnic area, or purchase food from the cafeteria, cafe or restaurant.

2. Parc Omega - we haven't had the chance to visit, but everyone raves about it. (You can read what Becky from A Little Bit Of Momsense thought and if you want to read in french, you can check out Entre 2 Escales for their thoughts) Stock up on carrots (costco is a good place to go) and feed some of the animals as you drive along.

3. Saunders Farm - outdoor family fun! Splash pad, jumping pillows, mazes, tractor ride and play structure. Pack a picnic (or purchase food onsite - cash only) and spend the day. Remember to reapply sunscreen or you may come home with a burn. We always have a blast when we visit.

4. Mill of Kintail - I haven't been here since I was in elementary school, it's a popular place for field trips. Hike the trails or visit the museum and see works of art from Canadian artists. Just a short drive West from Ottawa.

5. Go hiking - Gatineau park is a great place to put on your hiking shoes and get out in nature. A short drive from Ottawa. In addition to hiking, you can bike, camp or check out the Mackenzie King Estate.

Monday, May 29, 2017

How are we already in the last week of May? Time has flown by - school ends in a month. Hard to believe. I hope that you enjoyed your weekend!

If you are a blogger, feel free to list any open giveaways you have on your blog. Make sure to list the prize, end date and country eligibility (CAN/US/WW) any listed without this information will be deleted.

Thursday, May 25, 2017

Mr. J's soccer season started this week. As we were gearing up for the start, we purchased new cleats and shin guards. We talked about what this season might be like, and he was happy to learn there were 4 or 5 boys on his team that he had played with previously.

This year we received an email letting us know when and where their first practice was, as well as a snack schedule. In past years, we have always just signed up for when we wanted to bring snack - which meant we could choose a week that worked for us. I always try and sign up at the beginning so that we can get it over with quickly. It doesn't take much effort to pick up some fruit and get it sliced up, but I don't really think that snack is necessary.

At the practice, a few of us parents were talking and all agreed we would be happy NOT doing snack this year. At the end of practice, one of the moms mentioned it to the coach, and he agreed. He said it wasn't necessary, and if we were all in agreement then we could just provide water for our own children - to make sure they stay hydrated.

After so many years, it just took one parent mentioning it to STOP the snack.

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

This post is part of the YummyMummyClub.ca and #LevelUpKids sponsored program. I received compensation as a thank you for my participation. This post reflects my personal opinion about the information provided by the sponsors.

(GIVEAWAY AT END OF POST)

Mr. J is 9 (soon to be 10) and absolutely loves technology. He loves playing video games, watching you tube videos and would much rather use a computer than put pencil to paper. Whenever he has any sort of presentation to do in class, he always uses a slideshow to help enhance what he is sharing with his classmates.

I am glad that he is able to embrace tech the way he has, as it is a huge part of our lives, and it will become more a part of his life as he grows. Instead of limiting his access to technology, I am trying to ensure he enjoys learning the behind the scenes aspects of this world.

He loves watching videos, so I want him to learn how to create them. He loves learning new programs, and learning how to code could help him develop his own.

He and I recently had the chance to attend an event that was organized by #LevelUP. The kids had the chance to learn about and use SCRATCH to create their own hide and seek game. They were also able to play Minecraft and control robots using an iPad.

It was such a fun event, and Mr. J can't wait to attend a week long summer camp put on by Level Up. There are many different camps available for kids to choose from. Mr. J is most interested in the YouTube camp offered. He really wants to create his own channel. They have camps geared to Minecraft, Web Development, Game Design, Mobile Maker, You Tube, Programming, App Creator and Robotics. There is also a coding camp for girls.

The summer camps that Level Up offer engage kids in STEM education. They are geared to tech, but the kids get so much more out of it than that. These camps help kids learn the following skill sets:

Problem Solving (if something isn’t working properly, they need to work through it until they find the problem)

Team work (construct arguments and critique others, working as a team to solve problems)

Precision (for programs to work, they need to be precise as well as be written and formatted properly)

and more!

There is more to tech than just staring at a screen. A lot of steps are involved in the creation of the items we love to use. Level Up gives kids the opportunity to be at the ground level of this process. This program also realizes that kids need to be active. A long lunch break each day gives the kids a chance to get outside and be physically active.

Level Up Kids wants to help your kids learn to love tech. They have very generously offered me a week of camp to giveaway to one of my readers. This is open to Canadian residents only, and must be used this summer (2017).

For your chance to win, complete the form below. Good luck! (Please note: BOTH mandatory entries need to be completed to be eligible to win)

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Victoria Day weekend is over, and it's always a busy one for us. We spend some time getting my veggie garden ready, and hubby takes care of the back yard - getting it ready for the season. This year, he added some stepping stones on the ground beside our deck. We have not had luck with grass in that area for the last few years, and it's pretty much been mud.

I am so excited for my veggies this year. I still need to add some green beans. I have slicer tomato, cherry tomato, cucumbers and sweet peppers right now. I also have a raspberry bush we planted last year, which is supposed to bear fruit it's second year - so I am hoping to see some berries this year.

Saturday was a busy day; hubby and Mr. K top dressed and re-seeded the back yard. Mr. J had karate and then a hair appointment because he wanted a new style. I have a friend that has a studio in her house, and he even got to have some cat cuddles while we waited.

Sunday we decided to surprise the kids. They love staying at a local hotel for a night away, so we booked it last week. The boys thought we were just going out to watch the hockey game and have dinner. Then we told them we were spending the night and they were thrilled. We played in the games room for a bit, then Mr. K and I headed up to the room (he was ready for bed) and hubby and Mr. J went and listened to some jazz in the lounge. We slept in a bit Monday morning and then I took the boys for a swim and we finished the stay off with a delicious brunch.

Monday, May 22, 2017

Happy Victoria Day everyone. I hope you all had a wonderful and safe long weekend!

If you are a blogger, feel free to list any open giveaways you have on your blog. Make sure to list the prize, end date and country eligibility (CAN/US/WW) any listed without this information will be deleted.

Saturday, May 20, 2017

Summer is almost here and the weather is starting to co-operate. The rain has slowed down and the sun has started to shine. A hot summer day is the perfect time to enjoy a nice refreshing glass of Sangria on your patio.

After enjoying a delicious glass of Sangria while out for lunch last week, I decided to put together a round up of recipes - just in time for the May long weekend! I hope you enjoy them.

Thursday, May 18, 2017

I have very fond memories from watching my dad play ball as I grew up. Many of the men on his team became very close friends of our family, and I always smile when I think about them. Ball was such a part of his life, that my mom actually considered playing "take me out to the ball game" at his funeral.....but the priest wasn't so keen.

I played baseball 1 season, but it wasn't for me. Neither was ballet, soccer, baton, or basketball. I did all of those activities for 1 or 2 years, but eventually gave them up. As an adult, I realize that I just wasn't a fan of organized activities. I really enjoyed playing basketball in my driveway with my brother or with friends, but not really on a team.

When my kids were super small, I really hoped they would fall in love with a sport. Mr. J started playing soccer at 5 and has always enjoyed it - he will be playing again this season. Mr. K tried soccer last year, and didn't love it. He enjoys kicking the ball around with his brother and dad, but didn't love being on a team.

He tried basketball in the fall, and while he enjoyed it, it didn't seem to be his thing.

This spring, he decided he would like to try playing baseball. We bought him a glove and a ball so he could practice, and he loves to throw it around.

Last night was his first practice/game (they practice for 30-40 minutes and then play a game with another team afterwards) and he LOVED it. That may change as we get further into the season, but when his turn to bat came (he has never swung a bat before - not including hitting a pinata) and he connected on the first pitch, he was thrilled. The smile on his face was incredible.

His next turn at bat didn't have the same result, but he still made it to the base, and his third turn was pretty good as well.

When the game was over he was disappointed that it was done, and sad that he has to wait until next Wednesday to play again. The nicest thing for us is that the teams are small (only 6 players - and the coach pitches) and 5 out of the 6 go to his school.

I am hoping that he has found his sport - and that he continues to love it!

Monday, May 15, 2017

If you are a blogger, feel free to list any open giveaways you have on your blog. Make sure to list the prize, end date and country eligibility (CAN/US/WW) any listed without this information will be deleted.

Saturday, May 13, 2017

PLEASE NOTE: The free preview day that was supposed to take place May 20th in Kanata has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. We are deeply sorry for any inconvenience. Please check the website for more information on Pedalheads and to register for camp this summer.

Pedalheads bike camps are back for another year in the Capital, and have expanded to 5 locations now. There are camps in different areas of the city to make it convenient for families:

Monday, May 8, 2017

Happy Monday everyone! I hope you enjoyed your weekend. Mr. J took part in a Karate tournament yesterday, so we spent most of the day at the DOJO. He came in 2nd for his division!

If you are a blogger, feel free to list any open giveaways you have on your blog. Make sure to list the prize, end date and country eligibility (CAN/US/WW) any listed without this information will be deleted.

Monday, May 1, 2017

If you are a blogger, feel free to list any open giveaways you have on your blog. Make sure to list the prize, end date and country eligibility (CAN/US/WW) any listed without this information will be deleted.